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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Pituitrin
        
(Message started by: WendyHowe on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 5:55pm)

Title: Pituitrin
Post by WendyHowe on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 5:55pm

This may be a weird question but bear with me (or ignore me- no abuse again please). I am (as you all probably did) trying to make sense of why I have developed this problem.
The main CH research team in the UK are apparently trialling an old drug that used to be used for treating pituitary tumours as a new treatment for CH.
Does anyone on this site (I am asking in the UK as well) have any connections being made with pituitrin levels. I ask because I had a totally unrelated blood test some months ago where the results said my pituitrin levels were wrong. My Doctor said she didn't know what it meant so told me not to worry. I didn't, but now wonder in retrospect if this may be significant.

Anyone out there have any knowledge (I have done the usual searches and come up blank)
Wendy

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by don on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 7:08pm

Quote:

Doctor said she didn't know what it meant so told me not to worry.

Dont you think that is a strange comment for a Doc to make?

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by Mark C on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 9:04pm

I agree with Don, kind of a strange attitude for a Doctor, Lawyer, or Indian Chief. Anyway, there is quite a bit of information on Pituitrin levels. I attached a link but be warned, it is quite technical. On my first glance I did not see a lot relating to CH but I did not read all of the info. Good luck Wendy.
Mark
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/WebSearchFrameSet?OpenForm&dt=g&id=239fca8df4c3101685256c6d0019e3c3&Query=pituitrin&ref=http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/channel?OpenForm&dt=g&id=239fca8df4c3101685256c6d0019e3c3&c=Depression&u=goto//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m&form=4&Term=pituitrin&dopt=r&dispmax=50

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by WendyHowe on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 1:19am

Mark
Thanks for the reply and link. After looking at that I'm not surprised my GP said she didn't know what it meant! I haven't a hope of understanding any of that.

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by Tom on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 9:50am

Hi Wendy,

your question is n o t weird at all - only your "treating" doc is a weird dumbass, that's all !

Right now i don't have the time to answer your question (and the answer would be a very complicated one for a non-MD...), but I'll try to give you an answer as soon as I can and as exhaustingly as I can.

In advance: There is n o abnormity o f t h e pituitrin l e v e l at a l l y o u could n e g l e c t and say: "Doctor said she didn't know what it meant so told me not to worry" - INCREDIBLE STUPIDITY, that doc is a quack! First urgent advice: Get an appointment with an e n d o c r i n o l o g i s t as soon as you can (and it's not concerning your CH at all !).

So long, I'll answer soon ! Thomas; MD + CHead

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by WendyHowe on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 10:45am

Thomas
Thank you so much for the trouble.
I am now not surprised that my GP seems a 'dumbass' as I am now not even taking her last mad prescription for CH (Pethidine pills) as even I know it is wrong. I am a bit worried by your posting, as it was some months ago that this blood test was taken and no action followed (I was being tested for Thyroid and poss.early menopause at the time which came up negative)
There is good news though, my Ch is receding and the attacks have really maneagable pain now so I can easily hang in with no proper treatment until I see the neuro soon.

Wendy

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by Tom on Nov 24^th, 2002, 6:05pm

Hi Wendy,

you refered to the clinical research with octreotide (Sandostatin®) = a synthetic somatostatin-like drug at Queen Square - Prof. Goadsby's stuff give it as abortive med for CH, but they didn't publicate official results so far (for basic informations about somatostatin put "somatostatin" into the Google and read).

Now to Pituitrin:

from: http://www.copewithcytokines.de/cope.cgi?8453 :

Pituitrin P= Vasopressin

abbrev. VP . This peptide is called also Antidiuretic hormone ( ADH ), Adiuretin ,Vasotocin ,Pituitrin P and Pitressin . It is a cyclic nonapeptide (1,6 disulfide bridge) synthesized in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary from which it is released into the circulation as necessary. AVP has been found also in other tissues, including testis, ovary, uterus, adrenal gland, superior cervical ganglion, and thymus (Clements et al).
-----------------------

For more basic informations about hypothalamus/pituitary hormones look at:

---------------
http://fulton.edzone.net/cites/winkler-science/team1/chap10.html

http://www.md.huji.ac.il/pituitary/#Posterior_Pituitary

http://clem.mscd.edu/~raoa/bio2320/endo1/sld001.htm
--------------------------------------

Well, "wrong pituitrin levels" found once could:

- be a lab error
- be a harmless and accidental single finding
- perhaps be a CH bound phenomenon
- have another serious reason

Italian and Swedish scientists have found a lot of "wrong levels" of hypothalamus and pituitary hormones in CHeads, but - if I remeber well - they refered to the hormones that act in the anterior lobe of the pituitary, and pituitrin is a hypothalamic hormone that's stored in the posterior pituitary lobe. But why not, its level could be disturbed as well by the malfunction of our damaged hypothalamus.

Anyhow: As long as there is no evidence for a CH bound or another harmless nature of your wrong pituitrin level, as long further tests should be done.

Did you already contact the nice people from OUCH UK at www.clusterheadaches.org.uk - I'm sure they can help a lot with advices for a good doc in UK.

Wish you a painfree time ! Thomas

Title: Re: Pituitrin
Post by WendyHowe on Nov 24^th, 2002, 6:14pm

Dear Tom
You are a total star. Thank you for the references and for the explanations. I have 1st neuro appointmentment on Saturday and a follow up GP appointment. I will request/politely demand that my blood be tested again, and if pituitrin levels are still wonky will ask for referral to endocrinologist as well.
Thank God for company private medecine, with the state of the NHS here I could have waited a very long time for all of this (or spent fortunes that I don't have)
Thanks fopr all the time you have taken. It is more appreciated than you can know.
Wendy